ITMBWFL

“Where on earth have you been all this time?”

At the Valtier Ducal Estate on the outskirts of the capital,

the refined yet sharp voice of the Duke of Valtier filled the study.

Standing before him was a man with a perfectly composed expression, not the slightest trace of wavering in his posture.

It was Casium, the duke’s second son.

“I told you several times that you needed to show your face at that event.”

“I apologize.”

Though he spoke words of repentance, his voice did not shrink, bend, or show fear in the slightest.

His dry gaze matched his tone as he looked straight at his father.

Clenching his fist, the duke strode toward Casium.

“Don’t tell me you were off fooling around with some woman?”

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Casium’s lips.

He hadn’t really expected much.

Still, he had been gone for several days before returning.

Yet his father, the so-called “perfect” parent, showed not even the slightest hint of concern.

At times like this, Casium felt as though he were merely an actor in a perfectly scripted play.

“And what if I was?”

“What?”

The duke’s face flushed slightly.

“So you truly intend to disgrace this family. This won’t do—right away—”

“Please calm yourself. Nothing like that happened.”

The House of Valtier, admired by all.

And its two perfect sons.

The eldest, a priest loved by the gods.
The second, a knight beloved by the sword.
And parents who cherished both sons equally.

How perfect it all seemed.

Yet Casium had never once felt what people called love from his parents.

He had always protected himself on his own.
He had never longed for anyone’s warmth.

Because that had always been his normal, he simply lived that way, believing that was what life was supposed to be.

But then—

“Where exactly have you been for days?”

“I went to rest for a while.”

At his answer, the duke’s eyes wavered.

For the first time, his son had said something other than a hollow apology.

Casium met his father’s gaze.

He had always been someone who observed the world without expectation—without desire.

But during the few days he had lived as a rabbit, something in that detached mindset had begun to shake.

“What did you say?”

“I was tired. Even when you spoke to me like that, I didn’t have the energy to argue. So I took a short rest.”

His voice was still dry, but his words were no longer empty.

After finishing, he turned away without changing his expression.

“I’ve chosen a marriage partner for you.”

Casium stopped and turned back again.

“I will send a marriage proposal. It will be someone perfectly suited for you.”

“Not for me—for the ducal house, isn’t it?”

“Sending the proposal is already decided. In three days, as planned, a branch of Veranium flowers will be sent to that family.”

“Do as you wish. Not just for a few days—I might leave this house for good.”

At those words, the duke’s expression twisted harshly.

“Where did you learn to speak like that?”

“Well… I’ve only ever seen and heard the words and actions of the people in this House of Valtier.”

“How strange,” he added lightly, giving a brief bow.

Then Casium turned away once more—

and left the study without looking back.

The door closed behind him.

Entering his room, Casium let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

He chose a marriage partner?

His thoughts were tangled.

Whether Casium truly left home or not, the duke was not the type to abandon his decision.

He would likely send that proposal to some family Casium didn’t even know.

For as long as he could remember—since the day he was born—his own will had never mattered.

Until now, he hadn’t really cared.

Who he married didn’t matter to him.

Feelings between people—love—all of it felt meaningless. Anyone would do.

Then he recalled something his mother once said long ago.

“Casium, you must never love anyone.”

“Why?”

“No matter who you love, you won’t be repaid. You will only hurt everyone. So don’t love anyone, don’t cherish anyone—only love yourself.”

He had been very young, so his mother probably never imagined he would remember those words.

But they had stayed with him far longer than expected. Even now, they were vivid.

But still…

“Casium?”

At that moment, the emerald eyes and red hair of Lize—who had looked at him when he awoke in the cave—flashed through his mind.

“You’re going to forget anyway.”

Her figure, standing just one step away from him on the night of the knights’ victory celebration.

“Thank you, golden rabbit, for staying by my side.”

And the warmth of her embrace.

Why was he thinking of Lize right now?

“……”

At that moment—

Bang!

With a sharp sound, Casium’s vision wavered.

“Young master.”

His attendant Ronan knocked on the door.

Receiving no response, he knocked for quite a while before opening it—

but the room was empty.

“Bunny! Golden bunny!”

“Miss, you’re injured—you should rest.”

“Bryce, can you promise to find the rabbit if I rest?”

“……”

“Hmm? Bryce?”

Bryce looked off into the distance and whistled.

“…Sob, bunny! Golden bunny! Bunny!”

They searched the forest over and over, but the golden rabbit was nowhere to be seen.

Not where Luxka had been, nor in the cave they had briefly taken shelter from the storm.

Where could it have gone?
Had it followed its instincts and hidden deep in the forest?

That thought made her heart ache.

She hadn’t even said goodbye yet.

Golden bunny, where are you?

At first, bringing the injured rabbit had been important because it would become significant to Bryce—and might even help cure her illness.

But it’s not just because of that anymore.

This rabbit—this golden rabbit—had become important to her as well.

The few days she had spent with it had brought her an unexpectedly great sense of comfort and meaning.

As if they had known each other for a long time, the rabbit had naturally, warmly seeped into her life.

She didn’t want to lose something so precious like this—so helplessly.

I have to find it.

The search continued.

“Miss! Miss Lize!”

At that moment, Diane, one of the count’s attendants, ran toward her in a hurry.

Her skirt was stained with mud from running along the rain-soaked path.

“The count is looking for you. Please return to the estate.”

“My uncle? Sorry, not now.”

She felt bad for making Diane run, but finding the golden rabbit was more urgent than anything else.

No matter what her uncle wanted, she had no time to listen.

Right after fighting Luxka, she hadn’t realized it, but the rabbit might also be injured.

It hadn’t even fully healed from its previous wounds—if it had been hurt again, it could be in real danger.

“But…”

“There’s something I must find right now. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Ah, then… um…”

Lize gestured impatiently for Diane to hurry and deliver the message.

Diane, looking slightly nervous under her gaze, nodded repeatedly and asked:

“Then… what should I say about the rabbit?”

“…?”

“The count said there’s a rabbit in the annex and asked what it is…”

“What?!”

The rabbit?

Our rabbit came back home?

Ignoring the pain of her reopening wounds, Lize dashed toward the estate.

“Miss?! Where are you going?!”

“Bryce! Be careful not to slip!”

As expected of a rabbit like me—it has a strong homing instinct!

Just wait, I’m coming!

The closer she got to the estate, the faster she ran.

Thinking the golden rabbit had been caught by her uncle made her even more anxious.

He hasn’t already done something to it… has he?

She wanted to think positively, but the word “what if” didn’t apply to her uncle.

What if he already roasted the rabbit…

It felt as though all the blood drained from her body.

No—don’t think like that.

“Miss Lize, you’ve returned. The count is inside—”

“I know.”

She brushed past the attendant and entered the annex.

Thud, thud.

Her hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor as she searched for the golden rabbit.

“Crack.”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

The sound came from the reception room in the annex.

“You worthless little creature!”

“Father, wait a moment. I’ll bring a sword. A vicious rabbit like this should be stabbed to death—”

Startled, she rushed toward the reception room.

Without realizing it, her hand went to the sword at her waist.

Her mind was filled with only one thought—saving the golden rabbit from danger.

Gripping the hilt tightly, she almost slid as she stepped into the room—

“Lize!”

Her uncle called out to her in a booming voice.

Surprisingly… it sounded almost welcoming.

“Do something about this rabbit!”